Top North Island Art Tours

Visit the Hobbiton Movie set on a full-day tour from Auckland that explores New Zealand's 'Middle-earth,' where 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' came to life on film. Travel through a landscape of lush farms, then take a guided tour of the 12-acre (4.8-ha) Hobbiton Movie Set, from hobbit holes to gardens and the Green Dragon Inn. With free time to shop and explore, this tour includes transport from selected locations in Auckland, and it's limited to 16 travelers to ensure personalized service.

Get an authentic introduction to Maori culture with an evening at the Mitai Maori Village of Rotorua. See warriors in traditional dress paddle in an ancient canoe, and be captivated by the displays of weaponry. You'll watch 'haka' and poi dances and view glowworms in their natural habitat. This 3-hour experience includes round-trip hotel transport and a traditional 'hangi' feast with your admission ticket.

Experience all that Hobbiton has to offer free of time pressures on this full-day tour. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie set was created, and see one of the few film sets maintained long after shooting has finished. This tour is great for both diehard fans of The Lord of the Rings and those who just want to enjoy a unique day out.

Spend the morning or afternoon visiting Middle-earth on this half-day 'The Lord of the Rings' tour from Wellington. A guide with insider knowledge entertains Frodo fans on a journey into the scenic New Zealand countryside. Get a behind-the-scenes look at LOTR movie production on a tour of Weta Studios and discover why director Peter Jackson selected this region to film the renowned trilogy along with ‘The Hobbit’ movies.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at nine ‘The Lord of the Rings’ locations around Wellington and learn about the filming of movies based on the popular books. On a tour of the New Zealand countryside, see re-created scenes of Middle-earth including the Hutt Valley and the Greenbelt, take a forest walk through Tolkien’s Rivendell, and step into Weta Studios for a movie production tour of digital special effects. Your guide shares insider gossip on how the movies were made and takes you to a themed lunch.

Discover Napier’s striking Art Deco architecture on this city tour. Admire the beautiful buildings of the Ahuriri and Marewa districts; see Art Deco landmarks such as the National Tobacco Building; and learn more about the distinctive design style. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Discover famous sites from Middle Earth on this Hobbiton™ Movie Set shore excursion from Mt. Maunganui. Travel with your guide to Matamata, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour of Hobbiton™, which featured in screen adaptations of Tolkien's epic novels. Also explore some natural highlights of the area, including McLaren Falls Park, Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, and a kiwifruit orchard.

Waiheke Island is an artsy and creative place, and on this tour you’ll discover the best of its arts scene with the help of a local guide. Visit sculpture parks, artists’ studios, and galleries while learning about the creative history of the island—and without the risk of getting lost on the trails! The walk is leisurely so is suitable for a variety of fitness levels.

Beat the crowds and explore this award-winning exhibitions before opening. Explore Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War with the peace and stillness this subject matter deserves by entering the exhibit half an hour before the public. Te Papa has joined forces with Weta Workshop to create an exhibition like no other. After a short introduction from a Te Papa Host, you will wander freely at your own pace through this gallery. Garnering international acclaim and various awards, this space is best experienced before the museum's doors are opened for general admission. * See eight extraordinary New Zealanders captured frozen in time on a monumental scale - 2.4 times human size * Learn about the battles that took place in this culturally-defining event * Discover more about the ANZAC story through 3D maps and projections, miniatures, models, dioramas, and a range of interactive experiences.

Travelers short on time in Napier who don’t want to miss the city’s cultural treasures will love this 2.5-hour Art Deco-focused tour. With a small group of travelers you’ll visit many of the city’s architectural treasures, including the National Tobacco Building, while learning about Napier’s dramatic history. Also visit a winery to learn about wine-making in the North Island’s premier region.

Waiheke Island is a creative little community but many of the galleries and workshops are somewhat hidden. On a private guided art walk of the island you’ll be taken to some of the most interesting galleries, sculpture parks, and artist studios, all while enjoying the fresh air and views of the Hauraki Gulf and the beautiful island. It’s a gentle leisurely walk so is suitable for all kinds of travelers.

A promise of adventure awaits on this full day luxurious private tour to the Matakana Coast from Auckland. Experience a tasting tour to sample the very best of Matakana's wine, food & chocolate paired with a unique opportunity to experience art and nature. Discover a dynamic exhibition of large-scale sculpture set in a stunning natural environment of native bush, wildlife and ponds bursting with water lilies. Sample the many hand-crafted chocolates, artisan chocolates, handmade fudge, and classic sweets made from high quality ingredients. Matakana art, food & wine experience includes lunch at the Glass House overlooking a shimmering lake, and wine tasting of highly acclaimed range of boutique wines, in a spectacular vineyard setting. Finally compliment with a rich Italian style ice cream, artisan gelato or sorbetto to finish your day.

Offering beautiful scenery, spectacular natural features, and rich native culture, New Zealand is an outdoor-lover’s dream destination—with adventure waiting round every corner. On this private tour, hop into the saddle and hit the beach on horseback, sample fine wines at a traditional winery, and delve into New Zealand’s colorful art scene. With lunch plus pickup and drop-off in central Auckland included, experience the best of New Zealand’s countryside and culture.

Get out of the city to the holiday town of Matakana on this immersive experience. Upon arriving in Warkworth, discover farmland and native rainforest waiting to be discovered on horseback. Perfect for novice and experienced riders alike, this is an awesome opportunity to learn a new skill and explore the landscape, under the watchful eye of friendly guides Finish at Chocolate Brown to sample product and watch Chocolatiers at work.

First-time visitors or anyone with limited time in Wellington will enjoy a private half-day sightseeing tour. Avoid the hassle of self-driving or catching slow public transport. Check out many of the capital’s highlights, including the New Zealand Parliament, the Wellington Cable Car, Mount Victoria, and other must-see attractions. Get a handy introduction to the city and see where landmarks are that you can explore further later.

Discover the vibrant art scene in Auckland on a walking tour with an informative guide. Visit up to six galleries with your guide, who is a local art critic with exclusive access to venues that are not available on other tours. Learn about local artists and their work and browse art in a variety of styles on this fun and informative tour.

Join the locals on the fortnightly Saturday morning Walk & Talk an Art Precinct. Explore art the best way, with other art lovers and an expert guide. Find the contemporary dealer art galleries in the city. Each Walk is to a different cluster of galleries. We are introduced to the gallery, gallerist, exhibition and sometimes we are lucky to get to talk with an artist. We get all the extras of being with a person the gallerists know and respect. Sometimes we go to art auction houses and/or artist studios. Returning several weeks later we find new exhibitions and therefore new experiences. Guides are chosen for their intimate knowledge of the region’s art scene, galleries and artists. As the exhibitions are constantly changing, no Walk is the same. Returning to the precinct will always take us to different exhibitions, deepening and extending our knowledge of the art. We always find a good place for coffee and more talking.

Turn your fantasy world, into reality. Creating a physical miniature landscape that feels like a real environment with believable elements, isn't as hard as you think. You need to be creative, yes, but our Unleashed crew will help you extract your inner artist and teach you the skills you need to create your imaginary world. You’ll be guided through a Workshop brief based on our original fantasy movie, the Age of the Ever-Clan, featured in the Wētā Workshop Unleashed experience. Your crew member will take you through the brief, examine the movie scene to understand the miniature required, and then dive right into the techniques needed to bring that scene to life. Suitable for ages 12+

If you are interested in every aspect of the fine arts, from historic, cultural, contemporary, and modern then our Auckland Fine Arts Tour is made for you! Our experienced local guides will give you a taste of New Zealand’s greatest art galleries. Gow Langsford Gallery lets you discover our country’s modern art, while Auckland Art Gallery is our country’s largest art institution, with a collection numbering over 15000 works, so you can fulfill your art hunger with us! After that, we’ll give you the opportunity to explore James Wallace Art Trust’s collection in a unique historic home. At the end of the tour, you’ll have the chance to visit Te Uru Gallery, which represents the powerful characteristic of the region and an important story for local Māori. So if you are an art lover kind of person, we highly recommend our fascinating tour while staying in our beautiful Auckland.

The Bay of Islands is a natural playground offering a huge variety of activities to keep you entertained for days. With scenic landscapes to explore by land, sea or sky, abundant wildlife including the playful dolphins, plenty of rich and colourful history and of course water sport opportunities around every corner. Spend a day marvelling at unspoilt countryside, indulging in wonderful food and wine, exploring riverside towns, and enjoying the special things to do around northland. Experience our unique Sculpture Trail, honey experience and sample the many hand-crafted chocolates, artisan chocolates, handmade fudge and classic sweets made from quality ingredients, and choose gifts to take home. Embark on a voyage of discovery and enjoy the beauty of this area when you join a daily cruise to hole in the rock, to one of New Zealand’s most historic locations, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and drive along the sand on Ninety Mile Beach to the very top of the North Island – Cape Reinga!